If you've been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and your problems persist after you make lifestyle changes and start medication, you might be referred to a doctor who specializes in digestive diseases gastroenterologist. In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask other questions that occur to you during your appointment.
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may leave time to go over points you want to spend more time on. You may be asked:. Hiatal hernia care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Diagnosis Endoscopy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Endoscopy An endoscopy procedure involves inserting a long, flexible tube endoscope down your throat and into your esophagus. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Sfara A, et al. The management of hiatal hernia: An update on diagnosis and treatment.
Medicine and Pharmacy Reports. Ferri FF. Hiatal hernia. These are the symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease GORD. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need it. Go to Keyhole surgery also called a Laparoscopy is usually used for a hiatus hernia. This involves making small cuts in your tummy abdomen. It's done under general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during the operation.
There's a small risk about 1 in that your side effects will not go away and you'll need more surgery. It's rare for a hiatus hernia to cause complications, but long-term damage to the oesophagus caused by leaking stomach acid can lead to ulcers, scarring and changes to the cells of the oesophagus, which can increase your risk of oesophageal cancer.
Read more about the complications of a hiatus hernia. A gastroscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined using a gastroscope a long, thin flexible tube with a light and video camera at one end , which sends images to an external monitor. The gastroscope will be inserted into your mouth and down your throat, and will be used to help identify any problems. The procedure may be carried out using a local anaesthetic or a sedative to help you relax. The barium meal X-ray , also called the barium swallow test, is an effective way of identifying a hiatus hernia.
As part of the test, you'll be asked to drink some barium solution. Barium is a non-toxic chemical that shows up clearly on an X-ray. Once the barium moves down into your digestive system, a series of X-rays will be taken to identify any problems.
If you need to have a barium meal X-ray, you won't be able to eat or drink anything for at least 6 hours before the procedure, so that your stomach and duodenum the top of the small intestine are empty. You may be given an injection to relax the muscles in your digestive system. You'll be given a white, chalky liquid containing barium to drink while lying down. This will allow the specialist to see your stomach on an X-ray monitor more easily, as well as any ulcers or abnormal growths. Your bed may be tipped slightly during the test, so that the barium fills all the areas of your stomach.
A barium swallow usually takes about 15 minutes to perform. Afterwards, you'll be able to eat and drink as normal, although you may need to drink more water to help flush the barium out of your system. You may feel slightly sick after a barium meal X-ray and the barium may cause constipation.
Your stools may also be white for a few days afterwards, as the barium passes through your system. In most cases, people with a hiatus hernia only experience problems if the hernia causes gastro-oesophageal reflux disease GORD. GORD can cause symptoms such as heartburn and an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Lifestyle changes and medication are the preferred treatments, although surgery may be used as an alternative to long-term medication, or if other treatments are ineffective.
There are several things you can do yourself to help relieve symptoms of GORD caused by a hiatus hernia. These include:. If you're overweight, losing weight may help to reduce the severity and frequency of your symptoms. If you smoke, you should try to give up. Tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system and may make your symptoms worse.
Read about stopping smoking. A number of different medications can be used to treat symptoms of hiatus hernia. These are described below. Antacid medicines can relieve some of the symptoms of hiatus hernia.
They come in liquid or tablet form and can be swallowed or chewed. They help to neutralise stomach acid when they reach the oesophagus and stomach by making it less acidic. However, antacid medicines don't work for everyone. They're not a long-term solution if symptoms persist or you're in extreme discomfort. Antacids shouldn't be taken at the same time as other medicines, because they can stop other medicines from being properly absorbed by your body.
They may also damage the special coating on some types of tablets. Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice. Alginates are an alternative medicine to antacids. They work by producing a protective coating that shields the lining of your stomach and oesophagus from the effects of stomach acid.
H2RAs block the effects of the chemical histamine, which your body uses to produce stomach acid. H2RAs therefore help to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. Side effects of H2RAs are uncommon. However, possible side effects may include diarrhoea , headaches , tiredness and a rash.
Some H2RAs are available over the counter at pharmacies. These types of HR2As are taken in a lower dosage than the ones available on prescription.
Ask your GP or pharmacist if you're not sure whether these medicines are suitable for you. PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid produced by your stomach. Examples of the PPIs you may be prescribed include omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole and esomeprazole. Most people tolerate PPIs well and side effects are uncommon. When they do occur, they're usually mild and can include headaches, diarrhoea, feeling sick or constipation.
To minimise any side effects, your GP will prescribe the lowest possible dose of PPIs they think will be effective. A stronger dose may be needed.
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